Page 90 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

“You’re gonna be the death of me, girl.”

I laugh, and then he says, “You better go, Doc.”Docis his new pet name for me. He says that once I’ve graduated, the plan is that when I finish work, I’m to come home dressed in my doctor’s scrubs.

I kiss him one last time, pick up my laptop bag, and place it over my shoulder. “Bye.”

“Till tonight,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Yep, tonight.”

RHYDER

“Brother, what are you nervous for? It’s not as if you’re proposing.”

I take a swig of my beer. “I know, brother. It’s just I’m crazy about her, and me givin’ her this cut means I’m askin’ her to be my ol’ lady. It’s as close to marriage as you’re goin’ to get as a biker.”

Torch nods. “Yeah, I get that. Must be something to it if Prez and the other boys have an ol’ lady. Maybe it’s not all that bad.”

I snap my head to his, and we both burst out laughing. “Yeah, you’re right, brother, I ain’t ever settling down.”

I place my beer on the bar and fold the cut I had made for Lexi over my arm. She’s coming over tonight, and I’ll be introducing her to the club properly. She hasn’t been around much since that night, we’ve been trying to take things slow mainly for her old man’s sake, but I’m crazy about her, and I can’t take things slow anymore. I know she’s still young being just shy of nineteen. But I also know what I want, and I’m going to grab it while I can. If there’s something I’ve learned in the last few months, it’s that if you find happiness, you need to hold onto it because it can be taken away from you in an instant.

The music starts, and the party is now in full force. Heavy metal sounds through the clubhouse as Prez approaches me.

“I’m proud of you, brother. Never thought I’d see the day.”

I smirk. “Yeah, that makes two of us.”

Blaze walks over and joins in our conversation. “Fuck, man, next, you’ll be asking her to marry you.”

Torch spills his beer when he takes a swig of it.

I told the boys I was going to make Lexi my ol’ lady tonight.

“Never thought I’d see this day,” Blaze jokes. “I still remember you in the garage with a different woman each night.”

I straighten. “You better not talk shit like that when Lexi gets here.”

“What’s wrong? Don’t want her to know what a manwhore you were?”

I hook punch his ribs, and he bends over, acting as if he’s in pain. “Shut the fuck up, all of you,” I spit.

They all laugh, and I notice their eyes turn toward the door.

I freeze, feeling my body heat with desire when I see Lexi has walked inside. She looks so beautiful standing there in her denim jeans, white lace top, and denim jacket. She looks up, and no shit, I feel my stomach do somersaults.

The boys are saying something to me, but I can’t hear them, all I can hear is my heart pounding loudly in my ears.

Slowly, I make my way to Lexi, her new cut over my arm.

This is it—she’s going to be my ol’ lady.

Lexi smiles, and when I reach her, I throw the cut over my shoulder and cup her face in my hands bringing her warm lips to mine. I kiss her gently, and when I pull back, her cheeks are slightly pink as she looks around at the club.

“You better get used to me kissin’ you in front of my brothers because I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

She bites down on her bottom lip, and I remove my hands and grab her hand leading her to where my brothers are now standing. “Brothers, this is Lexi. Most of you have met her already.” The boys clear their throats, all saying hello to her in their various ways from words to head nods. I can feel Lexi’s grip on my hand tighten, and so I know she’s nervous.

When Torch’s eyes travel down Lexi’s body, I glare at him. He winks at me, and I want to kick his ass for even looking at her, but I know he’s playing with me.

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